Twelve months ago I argued that if Manchester City didn't end the season as Premier League champions they would have no excuses.

Roberto Mancini had built a squad that was the best in the country.

Anything less than top spot would have been failure – even if the Blues hadn't won the title since the days of Bell, Lee and Summerbee.

I am of exactly the same opinion this time.

Manchester United and Chelsea may have splashed the cash to strengthen this summer, while Mancini has been pointing a finger of blame at football administrator Brian Marwood for allowing top targets Eden Hazard and Robin van Persie to move to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford respectively.

The Community Shield may be nothing more than a glorified pre-season friendly.

But there was something ominous about City when they beat Chelsea at Villa Park last week that should worry Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberto Di Matteo and the rest.

They played with a strut and a swagger that only comes when you know you are the best team in the country.

They had the arrogance of champions.

Their 3-2 victory flattered Chelsea. Even before Branislav's Ivanovic's red card, the European champions were chasing shadows.

Community Shield: City get their swagger on (Image: Matt Lewis / Getty)

Even when Mancini's men went behind they knew it was only a matter of time before their class would out.

And this was with David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Gael Clichy and Adam Johnson on the bench and Mario Balotelli, Joe Hart and Micah Richards missing through injury.

In striker-lite Carlos Tevez the Blues had a player who looks ready and able to take on the rest of the Premier League by himself.

Carlos Tevez: hungry for success again (Image: Reuters)

City are better than they were this time last year despite having virtually the same squad of players.

Of course, they will need to be. Winning the league is tough enough. Defending the title is even harder.

City still have flaws. When Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott were missing last season it opened the door for United to go eight points clear at the top.

And while there have been noises from Old Trafford suggesting that winning the title by virtue of goal difference somehow tainted City's triumph, the truth is that when the pressure was really on it was the Blues who played like champions while United crumbled.

The last City team to defend the title beat West Brom 6-1 in the Charity Shield at the start of the 1968-69 season.

They then won just one of their opening nine games and finished the campaign in 13th place, although Joe Mercer's men did lift the FA Cup.

In 1937, City's first title-winning side beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Charity Shield - and ended the season as the only champions in history to be relegated.

Roberto Mancini: out to prove a point this season? (Image: Matt Lewis / Getty)

Mancini will want to bring in defensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes to cover for Kompany and Lescott.

And the City boss will no doubt want Sheikh Mansour to deliver another couple of new faces.

But the Italian will not be worrying about another winter of discontent. His motivation will be to make sure his team can succeed both at home and abroad.

Are City the best team in the league?

Well, to paraphrase the great Brian Clough, I think they are definitely in the top one.